The city wants to preserve landmark homes and commercial buildings. Structures in the historic districts could not be demolished or altered without approval.

Although residents like the idea of the districts, they fear government will take away their property rights.

"We are in support of the concept, but there is also a great deal of concern," said Linda Wilson, president of the Hollywood Lakes Section Civic Association. "There are many questions in the minds of the people about their rights and to what length there will be government intrusion."

One of the proposed districts would include several blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and would affect only businesses. But the other two would encompass residential communities: the homes along Harrison and Tyler streets, and the Lakes section in eastern Hollywood.

In some cases, individual homes, rather than entire streets, could be chosen as historic properties.

One of the residents' main concerns is property rights. Once a building is designated a historic site, the owner must receive special permission to substantially alter or demolish it.

But Ted Tankard, financial secretary of the Hollywood Lakes Section Civic Association, said the standards would apply only to major renovations and would be in line with what home and business owners would want anyway.

"Most people want to have additions that complement the style of their house anyway," Tankard said. "This just ensures that people follow that."

Also on the minds of residents are increased property taxes. "This is going to be a nightmare," said Joseph Duncanis, a resident in one of the designated areas. "We won't be protected once the regulations are in place. We will be forced to bear all the cost."

Added Kurlancheek, who has worked on several historic preservation projects in Hollywood since 1991: "Most approvals [for additions and new construction) will be done on the staff level with no extra fees."

The guidelines being proposed by the city are duplicates of those followed by the National Register of Historic Places, according to Kurlancheek. The three historic districts were approved by the city's Planning and Zoning Advisory and Historic Preservation boards on June 26. The City Commission, which has final say, will vote on the districts on July 26 and September 27.

Tankard noted that the historic districts would increase property values and attract tourists. "There would be more community pride and pressure to maintain properties," he said.

Also still at issue is whether a historic district will be created for Young Circle.

The Lakes residents want the circle included in the plan and are disturbed that the city withdrew it.

"I think the city's ulterior motive is to realign the circle for new traffic patterns," Tankard said. "If [Young Circle) is designated a historical district, it would be harder for them to do that."

City officials said they are still exploring the Young Circle issue, but that they need to do more research on the original design of the circle before presenting it as a historic site.

Although most who attended the meeting had reservations about designating the historic districts, only a few completely objected to the plan.

"I think the city of Hollywood cannot afford to let historic districting not happen," said Doug Craig, a resident of the designated area.